Should I Sit Guitar Exams?

Guitar exams are great in that they set a goal to work towards, help to push you forward, develop your skills, and give a sense of accomplishment and self confidence. Having said that exams can be quite stressful, and to a student that is unaware of what they're getting themselves into an exam can turn a fun hobby into a source of stress & negativity.

Whether a student wants to sit an exam should rest entirely upon how they feel about it, & the decision should always be in consultation with the teacher. There is much to prepare for an exam & as a result of an increased workload, much more time will need to be set aside for practice. A typical exam would consist of the following:

It is important that the teacher makes the student aware of what's expected of them when preparing for an exam, and how much work is involved. A situation where a student is pressured into an exam by his parents or his teacher often results in stress & frustration for all involved. If a student chooses not to sit exams, the exam syllabus can still be used as the basis of his musical education so that the same goals are achieved.